Gardai have passed on details of gangland figures who they expect to both leave and enter the country in the coming days. These names have been passed out to authorities in every airport across Ireland and they will inform units of any comings or goings.

A source said: “They will be looking out for people who they expect to come back to the country in the next few days.”

Gardai believe Eddie Hutch’s hitmen knew hotel victim David Byrne very well as tensions boil over in the capital. Eddie Snr – Gerry “The Monk” Hutch’s brother – was shot nine times in the head and body by the four-man hit squad at his North Dublin home.

It was the second gangland slaying in four days and revenge for the killing of Byrne, 35, a member of the Kinahan mob. His shooting was a reprisal for the gun murder of Gary Hutch – Eddie Snr’s nephew – in Spain last year.

Eddie was not involved in serious crime but was accused of laundering cash for a gang in the 90s. In the aftermath of the killing, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald pledged €5million to fight gangland crime as armed gardai take to Dublin’s streets.

She said more than 50 new specialist officers will be used to help prevent further bloodshed.

But the Association of the Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said they were disappointed with her “misleading statement”.

Deputy general secretary John Jacob added: “The Minister for Justice and Equality announced a new armed support unit for Dublin.

“However, what she failed to point out was that establishing this armed response unit will mean 55 gardai are being reassigned from frontline operational policing duties. These are not new gardai.

“The Government should not lose sight of the fact safer communities is not all about emergency response, it is about policing generally.

“This announcement changes nothing. In fact it makes it more difficult for the public to get a police response for ordinary crime and other incidents. Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced his 100 per cent support for the Garda organisation.

“AGSI now call on him and the Government to outline the investment they propose to make to adequately resource frontline operational policing as a matter of urgency.”